Designing a research project

Beginning a research project can be both daunting and exciting for all researchers, whether experienced or novice. This chapter highlights the crucial stage of creating a research project from a well-developed research question and appropriate methodology that best addresses the question. This beginning stage has a significant impact on the overall study, including the soundness of the results. This chapter explores strategies for conceiving of, and designing, a research project that can both be achievable and contribute to scholarship. This chapter draws on examples from two of the author’s own studies of interpreting in educational and legal settings, to more closely examine the many considerations required for an effective research project.